a problem that's affecting first responders all over the country is having a big impact in our region. Fewer people are volunteering their time to help with emergencies, and that's forcing one rescue squad in our region to shut down. WDBJ-7's Tim Saunders is live in the Lynchburg Bedford Newsroom. Tim, how many people will be effected by this closing? Chris, the agency that's shutting down is the Brookneal Rescue Squad. They answer 9-1-1 calls in three different counties. Starting next month, those emergencies will have to be handled by someone else. It's a day Wayne Rudder hoped he'd never see. a day when the town of Brookneal would no longer have its own rescue squad. Wayne Rudder/President: "We just kep anticipating that things would get better and times would change, but it never happened." Members of the Brookneal Rescue Squad made a tough decision this week to stop answering calls at the end of June. The decision was largely driven by a lack of volunteers. Rudder: "a lot of th people who worked here are having to commute further to work. a lot of the older ones are not able to run like they used to." According to numbers from Campbell County Public Safety, the Brookneal Rescue Squad received 822 calls for service last year. Despite their best efforts, they were only able to respond to 34 of those emergencies. Rudder says he believes his agency would have more volunteers to help answer calls, if the state's training requirements weren't so strict. In Virginia, volunteer medical technicians must complete 154 hours of classroom instruction and clinical rotations before they can serve with a rescue squad. Rudder: "It makes i really hard to spend our time getting qualified to do the job, rather than just get out and help somebody." Brookneal's rescue squad serves southern Campbell County, along with parts of Halifax and Charlotte Counties. Local leaders are working to make sure there will still be someone to help when emergencies happen in those areas. Tracy Fairchild/Campbell County Public Safety Director: "Betwee Campbell County's career staff and the five other volunteer agencies in the county, they will still be supported completely. There will be no lapse in service." The rescue squad will stop answering calls June 30th. After that all of their assets, including their building and emergency vehicles, will be sold. Live in the Lynchburg Bedford Newsroom, Tim Saunders, wdbj7. Roanoke

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